President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has given a go ahead
for the completion of KESC-HUBCO direct transmission link project. The
project when completed will ensure availability of 1200mw of power
generated by HUBCO on the disposal of KESC. Currently, KESC has to
import the required amount of power from WAPDA's national grid located
at Jamshoro while the power generated by HUBCO is also transmitted to
Jamshoro grid station which is about 175 kilometer off Karachi. With the
completion of the direct link between HUBCO and KESC the transmission
distance will shrink from 175 km to merely 30 km. The project besides
saving the transmission losses will save KESC from tripping of its
system whenever the transmission of WAPDA trips down.

The local component of the project cost would be
borne by WAPDA and KESC while the foreign component of the cost will be
met out by HUBCO.

Brig. Tariq Saddozai took over charge as the 44th
Managing Director of KESC and the third since army management was
inducted into the corporation in May 1999. Frank Jones was the first
Managing Director appointed in 1913. Mr. E.A. Pearson had the honor of
being appointed as the Chairman & MD KESC in 1947 when Pakistan
achieved independence.

Brig. Tariq carries rich experience of mechanical
engineer and aeronautics to his credit. He represented Pakistan twice in
Asian Games at Delhi 1982 and Jakarta in 1985. He was Pakistan's No.1 in
Long Jump. Prior to his posting as MD KESC he was commandant, 502
Central Workshop since 1999.

When asked what plans he has in his mind to smooth
ways to bail out KESC from the acute problems it is facing as well as to
the consumers, Brig. Tariq said with a sense of confidence to do his
best and rise to the occasion. He said that he has underlined three
priority areas, which include containing power theft, recovery of huge
outstanding dues against industrial, commercial and government sector
consumers. He feels that the purpose of inducting army management into
the corporation was to streamline the workings of the corporation in
such a manner that the problems faced by the genuine consumers are
resolved without any recommendation or "sifarish" while the
corrupt both within the organization or amongst the consumers are weeded
out. He said that the "KUNDAS" are being removed in a
systematic way and the illegal consumers are being brought into the net
of legal consumers. He admitted that though the process was a little bit
slow however we are moving ahead in the right direction.

Regarding a question of generating power through wind
turbines, the KESC chief observed that a private sector party had moved
a proposal to set wind turbines at the coastal areas, however they were
not serious in business. They had not done the home work or any study
regarding wind speed or wind direction and their timings and altitude
which is the basic data required for setting up of such a plant. The
idea was good to produce power without involving the costly fuel for
generation, yet it needs in depth study to achieve better results.

The KESC chief feels that this addition of the power
will ensure KESC to meet the demand of the consumers during next four to
five years, however the growing demand for power suggests that more
power generating projects should come into KESC's licensed area.

KESC chief said that to reduce the huge line losses
in the KESC system which have been reduced from 40 to 37 per cent is the
most challenging task before the Army Management. He said that all
possible steps are being taken to check the power theft through illegal
connections all over the city. He said that running losses on this
account are estimated at Rs 1 billion per month, which means power worth
Rs12 billion, is stolen every year.

When his attention was drawn towards heavy taxation
on power consumption which makes power consumption a costly affair and
one of the major cause for power theft, the KESC chief declined to make
any comments with the remark that this is an area which is dealt by the
government. He however agreed that the price of the power is very low,
it is levy of various taxes, which make the overall price on the higher
side.

Regarding the steps to check the power theft, he said
certain legal cover is in the pipeline for the action against the
defaulters and the power thieves. The plan is to encourage the honest
power consumers with immediate and quality services, while the dishonest
will be dealt with an iron hand, no relaxation to the dishonest
consumers, he said firmly.

On the privatization of the
KESC, Brig. Tariq said
that the financial advisor appointed by the government will be
submitting its first report this month, the process of privatization
however take at least a period of three years, he felt.